Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	good_a	holy_a	scripture_n	3,042	5	5.5201	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61692	A short discovery of certain truths of God according as they are revealed through the manifestation of the eternal light of the Son of righteousnesse, which are, a reply against two things in an epistle, and, an answer to certain queries contained in a book, intituled Christian queries, to quaking Christians, subscribed by one J.B. : also queries propounded, to be answered by the authour of the same book, or any other / by John Story.	Story, John, d. 1681.	1664 (1664)	Wing S5753; ESTC R4917	25,813	34

A Short DISCOVERY Of certain TRUTHS of GOD According as they are revealed through the manifestation of the eternal light of the Son of Righteousnesse Which are A Reply against two things in an Epistle And An Answer to ce●tain Queries contained in a Book Intituled Christian Queries to Quaking Christians Subscribed by one J. B. Also Queries propounded to be answered by the Authour of the same Book or any other By JOHN STORY But sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts and be ready alwaies to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and fear 1 Pet. 3. 15. Printed in the year 1664. A Pamphlet or little book being come to my hands intituled Christian Queries to Quaking Christians c. By one who subscribes himself I. B. with an Epistle to the Reader from one who subscribes himself I. A. And I having duly weighed and seriously considered both the Epistle and the Queries I return this following Reply against two things in the Epistle with an Answer to the Queries First to the Epistle in the Frontispiece of which I. A. saith Go little book improve thy Scripture skill Advance the truth and throw down all self-will Reply IT is not in the power of that little book or any other writing how holy or good soever they may be in themselves either to advance the truth or beat down the self-will haughty pride of man farther then they are accompanied with the living word Spirit and power of the Lord God therefore may I say much more it is not in the power of that little Book either to throw down self-will in any in whom it is not yet subdued or to exalt the truth in general because its only queries gathered by the Authour from the Letter of the Scriptures without and no message of heavenly prophesy doctrine or exhortation received by the Authour from the Lord through the divine inspiration of his light and Spirit within whose light Spirit and power operating in the hearts of men is that only means which becomes effectual to accomplish the things before mentioned viz. the laying low the pride of all flesh and the exaltation of the name and t●uth of God in the world Therefore may I say it 's a very vain and idolatrous exhortation which I. A. hath given to I. B. his little book And I. A. further saith Let light without be guide to light within Reply If by this exhortation I. A. means that light without should guide the true light which shines in the hearts of Saints which I cannot but gather from the forementioned words then I must needs say 't is a very absurd and foolish exhortation and being spoken upon a divine account it is very full of idolatry and evil and greatly contrary to the Gospel and exhortation of Gods Embassadours to the Saints upon earth which was that they should abide in the light or anointing that was in them 1 John 2. 27. And the Apostle preferreth the light that God hath caused to shine into their hearts so far beyond any perishing thing or light without that he exalts it as that excellent means by which he the Saints received the knowledge unto everlasting life 2 Cor. 4. 6. Where he saith God who commanded light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Many more testimonies proving the same truth might be instanced And though the holy Scriptures without and the Saints practises are as lights in the world yet far be it from all true Christian men so to idolize them as to set them in esteem above the light which is sufficient to guide or to esteem them equal with the light and Spirit of Christ within from which the Scriptures were given forth which are but branches of that holy ●oot and as it were fruits of that heavenly tree viz. the appearance of God in the hearts of his people If I. A. had bid people mind the doctrines and exhortations of the holy Scripture which testifies of and exhorts to Christ the true and never erring light in the hearts of his followers he had done better But what I have already in love said I shall leave to his more serious and better consideration 1. Query How and by what means may salvation be attained whether by adhering to light within us or by faith in Christ without us 1 if the later be not the best way why is it that the Scriptures do so often bid us to believe in Jesus Christ and that by so doing we may be saved 3 Joh. 15 16. Acts 16. 30 31. 2 or if the former be the better way if so I would then ask farther Answ Salvation is to be obtained through believing and walking in the obedience unto Christ Jesus who is that only true and saving light which lighteth every man that comes into the world Iohn 1. 9. And all mankind who cometh out of that night of darknesse which hath overshadowed the whole world and from under the cloud of errour that hath covered all the inhabitants of the earth must both believe receive and walk in the light of the Lamb Rev. 21. 24. which is the best and most excellent way though we must confesse as Jesus the true light of the world is God blessed forever our vessels are not able to contain him because his presence is infinite and fills heaven and earth and as he is thus infinite in himself we must confesse that he is as real without us as within us yet the true knowledge and faith which we with all the Saints have in Christ unto our salvation is not of him at a distance without us but even in him as he is near at hand by his light and spirit revealed within us according to what the Apostle saith Rom. 1. 19. That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them And Col. 1. 27. the Apostle saith To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery amongst the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory Therefore I say the hope which we with all true Christ●ans have whereby we may attain heaven where all felicity and happinesse is enjoyed for ever is not by any knowledge of Christ at a distance without us but as he is inwardly revealed by his light and Spirit in our hearts and they who thus know him have and do experience the virtue of his precious bloud which was shed for many to wash away their sin and to purge them from all their transgressions And this is that knowledge which a man may have and not dye for the soul that hath it lives to God in this world and shall reign with Christ to all eternity in the world to come And because this is the best and most excellent way for Christians both to believe